‘Transformation of UP Police rooted in tech, compassion'
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Summing up the transformation of the police in Uttar Pradesh, former director general of police OP Singh said that with a change in mindset, technology became the cornerstone of policing.
Speaking at a session during TOI Dialogues, Singh recalled the situation and said that when he took charge in 2017-18, Uttar Pradesh was grappling with high crime rate, organised crime and elements of criminality.
"It's erroneous to think we only went for encounters. We brought in a mindset change. Technology became the cornerstone of policing," he said.
From drones, CCTVs and UP112 emergency response system — ranked third globally in Dubai in 2019 — to artificial intelligence-enabled tools, predictive policing, and citizen-centric platforms like UPCOP offering 29 contactless services, Singh spoke about a slew of measures aimed at enhancing investigative capabilities.
Partnerships with IIT-Kanpur, IIM-Ahmedabad, IIM-Indore and ISRO helped build in-house technical expertise, he said.
Singh also cited major budget boosts, with the state police budget jumping from Rs 18,000 crore to Rs 24,500 crore in 2019-20, enabling massive training drives and infrastructure expansion.
"Modernisation comes only through technology — in weapons, forensic science, cybercrime units and ATS operations.
Equally important is compassion in policing," he said, recalling how humane, unarmed policing ensured the smooth conduct of Kumbh Mela.
Addressing concerns that technology could erode human contact, Singh emphasised balancing "hardware" — weapons, rules, enforcement — with "software" — empathy, openness and public trust.
"A good leader must combine both at the ground level," he said, noting that daily call volume has risen from 18,000 in 2019 to 30,000 in 2023, aided by data analytics for predictive policing.
Arya, who has lived in Noida since 1999, said policing in the city has improved "dramatically" — both in response time and citizen interaction. "The biggest change is that criminals are now afraid of the police, not citizens," he said, adding that while challenges remain, high-handedness has reduced and citizens' complaints are increasingly being heard.
Looking ahead, Singh said the force must aim for "inclusive policing" with equitable access to justice, especially for women and the poor.
"Smartness is not just a uniform — it's in ideas, mindset and action," he said, aligning with the PM's vision of a competent, sensitive, accountable and transparent police.
Retired Major Gaurav Arya called for increased budgets to match the scale of UP's challenges, comparing its population to that of the fifth-largest country in the world. "More funds are needed for training, technology, morale building, and better housing for constables," he said.
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